Metal wool holder



Maj' 12, 1959 w, VQGT 2,885,707

METAL WOOL HOLDER Filed April 1, 1957 INVENTOR. fa/inf ya??? dvewzw nited States This invention relates to cleaning implements and, more particularly, to a holder for releasably securing metal wool for cleaning purposes.

While metal wool, such as steel wool, is quite useful as a cleaning and scouring material, it is somewhat inconvenient to use and manipulate in the conventional pad form. An object of this invention therefore is to provide a holder for metal wool that is simple in construction, eiiicient in operation, and which may be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a metal wool holder having selectively operable means for securing and removing masses of steel wool therein.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a holder made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a bottom View of the device shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, a metal wool holder made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a longitudinal tubular shaft that is rigidly connected to a bell-shaped cup 12. The free end of the cup 12 is provided with a concave housing 13 and has a longitudinal bore 14 extending centrally therethrough into communication with a recessed seat 15 at the opposite end thereof. The tubular shaft 10 is secured within this recessed seat 15 and has a tubular slide bushing 11 secured therewithin for guiding the reciprocating longitudinal movement of a plunger 17. vOne end of this plunger 17 is adapted to extend through the bore 14 of the cup 12 and has a threaded bore 18 that is adapted to removably receive a bolt 19 that rotatably supports a star disk 20. This disk has a plurality of radially outwardly extending legs 21 that engage with and draw a quantity of metal wool 22 into the interior of the recessed housing 13. The opposite end of the plunger 17 has an internal bore 23 through which a transverse rod 24 transversely extends. This rod 24 also passes through a longitudinal slot 25 in the slide bushing 11 and a similar longitudinal guide slot 26 in the tubular shaft 10, as more clearly shown in Figure 1. The outer end of the rod 24 is provided with a button 28 that may be actuated by linger pressure, in a manner hereinafter described. A spring control bushing 30 is seated on the outer end of the slide bushing 11 and engages with the inner extremity of a shaft cover 31 that has a peripheral bead 32 that limits the inward move- 2,885,707 Patented May 12, 1959 ment thereof. The central interior portion of the cover 31 is provided with a depending bracket 33 that engages with one end of a tension spring 35 which is secured at its other end to the transverse rod 24. This spring normally maintains the plunger 17 in a raised position and resiliently resists movement of the plunger in a direction outwardly of the cup 12.

In order to replace the quantity of metal wool 22, the button 28 is moved to a depressed position 28a and rotated into the transverse guide slot 37 in the lower portion of the tubular shaft. The bolt 19 and associated star disk that has been moved to a lowered position 20a are removed from the lower end of the depressed plunger 17a, whereupon the metal wool 22 may be removed and a new quantity placed within the housing. The star disk and bolt are then replaced and the rod 24 rotated out of the transverse guide slot 37 which has held the parts in the extended position against the action of a return spring 3S, whereupon the rod 24 is free to return upwardly through the guide slots 25, 26, to return the parts to their normally retracted positions, the star disk retaining the wool in operative position within the housing so that the holder is again ready for use.

The bell-shaped housing is preferably constructed of wood so that it will not mar the iinish of metallic or plastic implements during the use of the device. However, other materials may be used if desired. Thus, while this invention has been described with particular reference to the specific form shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claim appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A metal wool holder comprising, in combination, a rigid tubular shaft, a bell shaped housing secured at one end to one end of said tubular shaft, lthe opposite end of said bell shaped housing including a concave recess, a retractable plunger having one end slidably secured within said housing and having an opposite end in communication with said concave recess, a star disc removably secured to the opposite end of said plunger normally disposed within said housing in securing engagement with a mass of metal wool, spring means normally biasing said plunger toward a retracted position, said shaft including a longitudinal guide slot, a transverse operating rod secured to said plunger and extending outwardly through said slot for effecting manual reciprocating movement of said plunger relative to said shaft, said spring means comprising a tension spring secured at one extremity to the opposite end of said shaft and at the opposite extremity of said one end of said plunger, said shaft further comprising a transverse guide slot in communication with said longitudinal guide slot for retaining said operating rod and said plunger in an extended position against the return action of said tension spring.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 599,072 Bloomer Feb. 15, 1898 798,134 Sutton `Aug. 29, 1905 2,305,352 Helminiak Dec. 15, 1942 2,364,319 Schimel Dec. 5, 1944 2,438,152 De Semple Mar. 23, 1948 

